Oh Su-mi reflects on 10 years of marital conflict with Kang Sin-il

Actress Oh Su-mi revealed she struggled during the first decade of her marriage to actor Kang Sin-il due to his taciturn personality and differing family cultures. While Oh Su-mi is an extrovert who gains energy through social interaction, Kang Sin-il is an introvert who recharges alone.

The marriage of spouses with opposite temperaments—a talkative wife and a taciturn husband—was by no means smooth. Recalling the early days of her marriage to actor Kang Sin-il, actress Oh Su-mi confessed to the conflicts she experienced because she could not discern her husband's inner thoughts.

Confession of "wanting to open the brain of my silent husband"

Oh Su-mi revealed that she went through very difficult times during the first 10 years of her marriage to Kang Sin-il. Because Kang Sin-il has such a quiet personality, there was no way for her to grasp his thoughts. Oh Su-mi shared that during periods of intense conflict, she felt such frustration that she used the extreme expression, "I wanted to open my husband's brain."

While her husband is the type who does not feel uncomfortable even without speaking, Oh Su-mi is the type who needs to communicate through conversation. She said she tried to confirm his feelings by asking questions or attempting to converse, but her husband's habit of hesitating before answering often broke the rhythm of the dialogue. Observing her husband focusing on newspapers or the TV, Oh Su-mi expressed a desire to be such a presence to him as well.

A "German-made speaker" family versus a polar opposite in-law culture

The different upbringing and family cultures of the two also influenced their conflicts. Oh Su-mi described her own father as a "German-made speaker," meaning he was so talkative that once he started a conversation, it would last for at least three hours. Her family has a dynamic culture where everyone has loud voices and enjoys conversing.

In contrast, the atmosphere of her in-laws' family was the exact opposite. The members of her husband's family do not engage in arguments, and the opportunities for conversation are structured such that they focus on the person with the loudest voice. Oh Su-mi confessed that there were times she struggled due to the sense of alienation caused by the difference in environments, stating, "My house and my in-laws' house live in completely different cultures."

Differences in how they gain energy: coexistence of 'extrovert' and 'introvert'

The difference in their personalities is also stark in the way they recharge their energy. While Oh Su-mi is an extroverted type who gains energy by meeting people outside, Kang Sin-il is described as an introverted type who gains energy when alone. Kang Sin-il is shown to become very exhausted after returning from consuming energy frantically through external activities.

These differences also appear during everyday meals. Oh Su-mi mentioned that she feels her husband finds it somewhat awkward to sit across from her and make eye contact. However, regarding their current state, Oh Su-mi revealed a relationship where they have adjusted to each other over a long time by accepting their differences, saying, "I am used to however my husband acts."

Source: original video (YouTube)